Heathcote

The community is far older than the state and national average, with nearly 30% of residents aged 65 or over. This senior population has grown by 4.1 percentage points since 2011, while children under 15 make up a much smaller share than usual at 14.6%.

People born overseas make up only 10.5% of the population, which is far below the national figure. Most residents claim English, Australian, or Irish ancestry.

English is the dominant language, with only 3.0% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national average, and very few residents speak little or no English.

About 43.1% of residents report having no religion, a figure that rose 17 percentage points since 2011. Christianity is also common at 42.8%.

Educational qualifications are much lower than most areas, with only 34.3% of residents completing Year 12. Only 13.0% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, though this has risen since 2011.

Incomes are well below state and national levels; the typical weekly household income is $1,115. Only 9.4% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, though this is an increase from previous years.

Long-term health conditions are very common here, affecting 38.8% of people, which is far above the national figure. Around 8.4% of residents need help with daily activities, a rate much higher than most areas.

Unpaid care is a notable part of local life, with 14.0% providing care and 25.8% doing significant housework. There is also a higher-than-average number of Defence Force veterans.

The First Nations population consists of 85 people. This group is far older than the national average, with a typical age of 33, and personal incomes are generally lower than most areas.

Many people live alone, representing 32.4% of households, which is well above the national average. This is consistent with the older age of the community, and homes typically hold only 2.2 people.

Housing is overwhelmingly dominated by separate houses, which make up 96.3% of dwellings. Nearly half of all homes are owned outright, and rental rates are among the lowest in the region.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, as only 0.6% of people commute by public transport. Very few homes lack a vehicle, and the drive time to the city is a high 87 minutes.

The population is relatively stable, with only 32.0% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national average. Recent arrivals from overseas are also very rare.

Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to other areas, at 47.3%. The most common industries for those employed are health, construction, and manufacturing.

The area has a low overall advantage score of 932, which is below the national average. Job skills and education levels are particularly low compared to similar regions.

The local climate sees an average annual rainfall of 581mm, which is slightly above the Victorian average. Average temperatures are generally lower than in most other areas.

The town is mostly car-dependent, with a low walkability score of 2.7. Access to groceries, health services, and parks within a 15-minute walk is far below the state average.